ERD

“We’ll be okay,” Erd found himself muttering softly, speaking more for Ard’s benefit than his own. His younger twin was pressed tightly against his side, hiding his face away from the prying eyes of those who had also sought refuge within the Dusk Court Citadel. “We’ll be okay.”
 
He understood. Ard was nervous. Scared. There were too many bodies piled into one place, everyone hoping to stay dry amidst the downpour and the flash flooding. Occasionally Erd would lip at his brother’s dripping hair or nuzzle at his crown before letting his eyes wander, vivid turquoise eyes taking in the other inhabitants of the large, spacious room. Equines and beasts alike had, forgive the pun, flooded the hallways in a desperate attempt to find someplace dry and warm, leading to overcrowding and poor moods.
 
Regrettably, he recognized only a very few of them. Atreus, Florentine, and Marisol were vacant. Perhaps they were helping in the relief efforts? The thought caused the young warlock to shift from hoof to hoof, uncertain. They should be helping. Standing idle, doing nothing… It just didn’t sit well with him. He wanted to help. While small, Erd was strong and capable, a quick and nimble bullet in the air. There was so much he could do, and yet…
 
Turquoise eyes focused on Ard, taking in his brother’s cowering, trembling form with a sympathetic frown. He would not leave him. Still, they had to do something.
 
“… We should help,” he whispered softly, nosing at Ard’s taupe curls fondly, “Try and find Marisol, or Miss Florentine. I’m sure they would appreciate our help.” It was a long shot, bringing it up. It was those words that caused a reaction out of Ard, and his brother lifted his head only high enough to send him a fierce glare. He did not speak, but Erd could hear his displeasure loud and clear in his head, could feel it wrap around his very being.
 
’No.’
 
“Ard…” He did not try and hide the disappointment from his own voice, even though it was interlaced with a familiar sympathy. “What if she needs us? We have to do something.”
 
They had to.

ARD

They were both sopping wet, huddled together with their wings wrapped tight about their bodies in a pathetic attempt to ward off the chill.

Ard had his face pressed against the chilled dampness of Erd’s shoulder, his eyes closed, concentrating on simply breathing. There were too many bodies packed into one place for him to be comfortable with, and he was on the verge of panic. With the nonstop rain, creatures of all manner had sought refuge within the dry capitol, and he hated being around so many people, but the alternative was to be out in the frigid, freezing rain.

He hated it, absolutely and positively… Yet what could they do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. At least not yet. Since the storms, the rains, and the flooding had started, there was very little that they could do to assist. Everyone was busy, doing their best to contain the worst of the damage all while searching for the missing members of their Court. Ard hadn’t seen Florentine nor Marisol in far too long, but he was far too much of an anxious mess to even attempt to seek them out.

What a great fucking way to spend their third birthday.

Ears pinned flat against his skull, Ard remained bristled and tense as he kept his face hidden within his twin’s shoulder. Face hidden by dripping taupe hair, he focused on his breathing, his heartbeat, and the soothing pulse that he could feel beating beneath his brother’s skin. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out… Erd was a steadfast support by his side, a beacon amidst the uncertain chaos of his heart. Warm, beautiful, and strong.

Slowly, the younger warlock began to relax, his posture gradually losing tension. So long as he could drown out the sound of the rushing rain and the world around him by the sound of Erd’s pulse and the soothing staccato of his beating heart, he would be fine. He had to be. Over and over Erd’s soothing words came over him, a repeated mantra of ’we’ll be okay, we’ll be okay’ doing wonders to soothe his frayed nerves.

Eventually, however, the mantra trailed off, and his brother’s bleeding heart made itself known by his following suggestions;

”We should help. Try and find Marisol, or Miss Florentine. I’m sure they would appreciate our help.”

Ard found the strength and confidence to wrench his face away from his brother’s shoulder, and shot him the most deviant, defying glare he could muster. There was no reason to speak, not when Erd knew him so intimately, but instead he allowed their bond to flow with a fiercely disagreeing emotion. No. Hell no. He had no intention on seeking them out, on getting themselves killed, even if he was growing fond of Marisol.

She hadn’t killed them. She hadn’t harmed them. Ard found that he appreciated her brash personality and brunt approach. It showed that she had no hidden agenda. With Marisol, you knew what she was thinking. Ard liked that… But he was still uncertain of putting himself, of putting Erd at risk. Even for her.

ERD

Honestly, Erd didn’t expect to be found, least of all recognized amidst the chaos of the Dusk Court proper. It wasn’t as if he and his brother were particularly social, after all, preferring to keep away from most of the other citizens of Terrastella. When the soaking form of diluted ivory, drenched feathers, and knotted white hair happened upon them, the elder warlock looked her over cautiously, lips turned downwards in a frown.

’Ard and Erd, right?’ Next to him, Ard bristled, eyes narrowing in distrust. ’My name is Theodosia.’

“Uh.” How very eloquent. Pensive turquoise eyes glanced sidelong towards Ard, instinctively shifting so that he stood closer to his twin’s side, letting their wings and their sides brush against one another. Seeping, sharing much-needed warmth in a perpetually soiled world. “Hi. Yeah, you’re right. I’m Erd.” The silver youth turned his head and bumped his muzzle against Ard’s own, a gentle, loving, reassuring gesture. “This is Ard. It’s good to meet you, Theodosia.”

They hadn’t heard her name before. Was she new to their hold? Or was she yet another member of Terrastella that they had no idea about? More than likely that was it, for the twins weren’t exactly a social duo. Still, not wanting Theodosia to think that they were inept, Erd straightened himself up to his full height – which wasn’t that much – and smiled, hoping to engage the pale lady in further conversation.

”You know the Commander?”

ARD

Ard didn’t know what to think, but he didn’t like it. Paranoia and distrust clung to him like a heavy mantle, yet the younger warlock wore it proudly. Turquoise eyes narrowed through a piercing stare as he regarded the pale lady, not trusting a single word that she said.

Oh, but she appeared nice enough, rain-soaked and bedraggled as she was. Still, a pleasant face could hide a cruel, dark heart and malign intentions, and Ard had no intentions on being taken unawares in a world that had ceased to make sense. He held his ground and fought the urge to flee, grinding his teeth as pale ears tipped back beneath a mess of soaking taupe locks. This was hardly the place for a meet-and-greet, yet here they were.

He was aware of Erd’s shifting, of the way that his twin sidled up so that they stood flush against one another, the feathers of their wings intermingling as they shared their body heat. Feeling his brother’s touch was soothing, and he felt himself relax, the tightly coiled tension within his muscles slowly releasing into a much more relaxed stance. Still frowning, still glaring, Ard simply stared hard at the pale woman named Theodosia and listened to her explain herself. She knew them by Marisol. He supposed that made sense, given the fact that they were the only identical twins within Terrastella.

Still. Ard was paranoid.

It was better to let his brother do the talking, though, and so the younger of the two silver dappled boys held his tongue and stared through baleful, judgmental eyes. Let this woman prove herself, prove her trustworthiness, because Ard sure as hell wasn’t about to give it up so easily.